IELTS Academic Writing Practice Test

Sample Answers

Compare your answers to the samples below.

Task 1 Sample Response

The bar graph shows the number of attendees at Grandville Stadium, focusing on theater, sports, and music events in the year 2017. The chart makes attendance projections for the years 2020 and 2030 after a major renovation project.

Overall, these data show a predicted rise in yearly attendance among all three types of events during the period of 2017 to 2030. The greatest increases will occur for theater and concerts, while sporting events will see a more moderate gains after the renovations. However, attendance has been and will remain much higher for sporting events than the other two categories.

In the baseline year of 2017, theater events accounted for only 10 thousand visitors. Yet, theater attendance should jump to roughly 50 thousand in 13 years. Similarly, concert attendees are predicted to reach nearly 125 thousand visitors in 2030, up from nearly 25 thousand in 2017.

By contrast, the stadium improvements will only increase sporting event attendance by about 10 thousand in 2030. However, athletic events were already bringing in 150 thousand people in 2017. The 2030 figure of about 160 thousand annual sporting event attendees is just shy of the 2030 combined numbers for both theater and concerts, which will bring in about 175 thousand people together.

Task 2 Sample Response

Some schools have begun supplying students with computers or tablets that they can use instead of texts and other printed resources. This shift towards technology offers several environmental and educational benefits, while the drawbacks relate to the sharp increase in “screen time” for students and the possibility that the devices will cause distractions in school.

One major benefit of providing computers and tablets to students is the opportunity to save paper resources. Even though paper is easily recycled, it still requires a lot of energy to produce. Adopting these technologies will make schools much more environmentally friendly. Computers and tablets also possess unique educational value. On a very basic level, students must learn how to use computers to thrive in the modern world. Just like learning math or reading, computer proficiency has become an essential and basic life skill.

Replacing paper-based learning resources with technology does have some disadvantages. One area of growing concern is the amount of time young people spend in front of screens. With cell phones, computers, and television, many children already spend hours outside of school staring at devices. Some medical professionals suggest that all of this screen time may have a negative effects on a child’s physical and psychological health. Therefore, adding screen time in school may exacerbate an already serious problem. A second drawback is that tablets and computers can cause distractions. There is a lot of unsuitable material for school on the web. Putting devices in students hands opens the possibility that students will use these devices in ways that are not educationally sound.

In conclusion, replacing traditional paper learning materials with devices like computers and tablets has some very clear environmental and educational advantages. However, schools must take care to monitor student screen time and ensure that students are using their devices for educational purposes.